Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
@ebornian.bsky.social
Indie dev, writer, and visual artist. ~ 🎮 http://thaumaturge-art.itch.io ~ 📺 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTcOFMvYj12hiWoTLkRhseA
Pinned
To serve as my pinned:
Greetings! I'm Ian, and (amongst other things), I'm working on a metroidvania!
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
Greetings! I'm Ian, and (amongst other things), I'm working on a metroidvania!
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
Well, I've just realised that it looks like I'll have to rework the mapping system in Moons in Crystal.
November 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Well, I've just realised that it looks like I'll have to rework the mapping system in Moons in Crystal.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Addendum to this excellent post:
You do not have to be good at something to have fun.
Don't hold yourself up to hyperrealistic or professional or your favourite ___ standards.
You're new and learning!
Be YOU, not a copy of someone else.
You do not have to be good at something to have fun.
Don't hold yourself up to hyperrealistic or professional or your favourite ___ standards.
You're new and learning!
Be YOU, not a copy of someone else.
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Addendum to this excellent post:
You do not have to be good at something to have fun.
Don't hold yourself up to hyperrealistic or professional or your favourite ___ standards.
You're new and learning!
Be YOU, not a copy of someone else.
You do not have to be good at something to have fun.
Don't hold yourself up to hyperrealistic or professional or your favourite ___ standards.
You're new and learning!
Be YOU, not a copy of someone else.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
I'd be thankful if I had a pirate ship, but I don't. So I'd be thankful if you looked at my pirate comic instead, because it's the best I can do.
www.thefourthcomic.com?comic=the-ta...
www.thefourthcomic.com?comic=the-ta...
November 27, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I'd be thankful if I had a pirate ship, but I don't. So I'd be thankful if you looked at my pirate comic instead, because it's the best I can do.
www.thefourthcomic.com?comic=the-ta...
www.thefourthcomic.com?comic=the-ta...
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Remember your favorite creator possibly might be struggling with imposter syndrome and doubt and this timeline sucks.. so if you find yourself thinking “wow I really relate to this persons work” or that persons work gives you joy, you should probably tell them. It’s a hard time to be a creative.
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Remember your favorite creator possibly might be struggling with imposter syndrome and doubt and this timeline sucks.. so if you find yourself thinking “wow I really relate to this persons work” or that persons work gives you joy, you should probably tell them. It’s a hard time to be a creative.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Three slots left!!
[ 💚COMMISSIONS💚 ]
5 new slots open! Check out the replies for links!
Have any questions? Feel free to DM me here, on Tumblr, or on Ko-Fi!
#commission #kofi #opencommissions #art #fanart
5 new slots open! Check out the replies for links!
Have any questions? Feel free to DM me here, on Tumblr, or on Ko-Fi!
#commission #kofi #opencommissions #art #fanart
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Three slots left!!
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
UNPOPULAR OPINION: Spending hours gaming is better for your mental health than hours of doom scrolling through social media. Games give you critical thinking, strategy, stories, goals and actual dopamine, as opposed to anxiety.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
UNPOPULAR OPINION: Spending hours gaming is better for your mental health than hours of doom scrolling through social media. Games give you critical thinking, strategy, stories, goals and actual dopamine, as opposed to anxiety.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Work on a new area in "Moons in Crystal"!
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
Deep beneath the canopy of the Plant Moon, amid the trunks and thorns of its stems...
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame #ScreenshotSaturday
One of the problems with implementing a maze into your game is that, at some point, you're going to have to traverse the entirety of it. Possibly more than once.
November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
One of the problems with implementing a maze into your game is that, at some point, you're going to have to traverse the entirety of it. Possibly more than once.
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Audio (sound effects, music, and dialogue) has a weird relationship with temp assets, mostly because of issues revolving around human psychology.
Problem #1: How do you communicate that something you're hearing is temp?
Problem #1: How do you communicate that something you're hearing is temp?
The annoying thing about the "oh we left a placeholder" generative AI slop excuse is that that is EXACTLY NOT how you should be using placeholders. Anything "not obviously terrible with a panicked hurried half-awake glance" is getting shipped.
In gamedev, if you're using a placeholder asset, best practices involve marking it as placeholder so garishly and offensively clearly PLACEHOLDER that you can't possibly miss it. Also flagging that asset in the dev process so it can be identified quickly before the final build.
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Audio (sound effects, music, and dialogue) has a weird relationship with temp assets, mostly because of issues revolving around human psychology.
Problem #1: How do you communicate that something you're hearing is temp?
Problem #1: How do you communicate that something you're hearing is temp?
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Did Blender help you this year? Help back! 🧡
If every active user contributed $5 this month, Blender would be funded for the entire year 2026. Professional 3D software. No subscriptions. No limits. Just your support.
Do your part. Donate today.
www.blender.org/news/give-ba...
#b3d
If every active user contributed $5 this month, Blender would be funded for the entire year 2026. Professional 3D software. No subscriptions. No limits. Just your support.
Do your part. Donate today.
www.blender.org/news/give-ba...
#b3d
November 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Did Blender help you this year? Help back! 🧡
If every active user contributed $5 this month, Blender would be funded for the entire year 2026. Professional 3D software. No subscriptions. No limits. Just your support.
Do your part. Donate today.
www.blender.org/news/give-ba...
#b3d
If every active user contributed $5 this month, Blender would be funded for the entire year 2026. Professional 3D software. No subscriptions. No limits. Just your support.
Do your part. Donate today.
www.blender.org/news/give-ba...
#b3d
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Smallest dinosaur known to science
November 17, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Smallest dinosaur known to science
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
steam is apparently allowing "this game had AI in it that it didn't disclose" as a valid return statement, so if you or anyone you know actually paid $70 for slop, get that money back
Insulting to the players, insulting to the IP, insulting to the medium, the developers. And the craft itself. Fuck you executives who pushed this garbage.
frvr.com/blog/call-of...
frvr.com/blog/call-of...
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI art slop, because your $70 means nothing anymore
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI generated artwork which makes the $70 feel like a complete rip-off.
frvr.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM
steam is apparently allowing "this game had AI in it that it didn't disclose" as a valid return statement, so if you or anyone you know actually paid $70 for slop, get that money back
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Help me get verified on Vgen, if you like!
Going to give that a try ^-^ so far I have 3 comm types listed.
vgen.co/Sitaart
Going to give that a try ^-^ so far I have 3 comm types listed.
vgen.co/Sitaart
November 14, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Help me get verified on Vgen, if you like!
Going to give that a try ^-^ so far I have 3 comm types listed.
vgen.co/Sitaart
Going to give that a try ^-^ so far I have 3 comm types listed.
vgen.co/Sitaart
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
🌖I'm working on an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania called "Moons in Crystal"!🔮
Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.
All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.
All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
🌖I'm working on an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania called "Moons in Crystal"!🔮
Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.
All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.
All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Opening up TWO slots for art commissions!
Finished full-body: $35 CAD
Finished half-body: $25 CAD
Sketch: $15 CAD
Only pencils/graphite for now; I hope to open inked and painted comms once I’ve got more of a cushion (and a new light box.)
Start your request HERE: forms.gle/mjGTnX5mya39...
Finished full-body: $35 CAD
Finished half-body: $25 CAD
Sketch: $15 CAD
Only pencils/graphite for now; I hope to open inked and painted comms once I’ve got more of a cushion (and a new light box.)
Start your request HERE: forms.gle/mjGTnX5mya39...
November 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Opening up TWO slots for art commissions!
Finished full-body: $35 CAD
Finished half-body: $25 CAD
Sketch: $15 CAD
Only pencils/graphite for now; I hope to open inked and painted comms once I’ve got more of a cushion (and a new light box.)
Start your request HERE: forms.gle/mjGTnX5mya39...
Finished full-body: $35 CAD
Finished half-body: $25 CAD
Sketch: $15 CAD
Only pencils/graphite for now; I hope to open inked and painted comms once I’ve got more of a cushion (and a new light box.)
Start your request HERE: forms.gle/mjGTnX5mya39...
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮
#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
The African Translation Project has less than $3000 to go to meet their goal! 🎉
Especially in the face of Amazon rolling out their AI translations for selfpub, can we help support human translations of books?
Donate, share, share!
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Especially in the face of Amazon rolling out their AI translations for selfpub, can we help support human translations of books?
Donate, share, share!
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Support African Translation Project
African Translation Project, Funding needed to complete two translations: Bengithi Lizokuna and Zvinobvinza, still needed: $2970, 70%, ko-fi: African Translation Project
ko-fi.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The African Translation Project has less than $3000 to go to meet their goal! 🎉
Especially in the face of Amazon rolling out their AI translations for selfpub, can we help support human translations of books?
Donate, share, share!
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Especially in the face of Amazon rolling out their AI translations for selfpub, can we help support human translations of books?
Donate, share, share!
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
as a computer scientist, i am BEGGING people to realize that there is no cognition inside of an LLM
no reasoning, no thought process, no self-awareness
I read a lot of arguments (for AND against) LLMs, and both sides seem to think there’s a consciousness or intentionality or even a moral alignment
no reasoning, no thought process, no self-awareness
I read a lot of arguments (for AND against) LLMs, and both sides seem to think there’s a consciousness or intentionality or even a moral alignment
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
as a computer scientist, i am BEGGING people to realize that there is no cognition inside of an LLM
no reasoning, no thought process, no self-awareness
I read a lot of arguments (for AND against) LLMs, and both sides seem to think there’s a consciousness or intentionality or even a moral alignment
no reasoning, no thought process, no self-awareness
I read a lot of arguments (for AND against) LLMs, and both sides seem to think there’s a consciousness or intentionality or even a moral alignment
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 📢
MY FATHER LIED IS NOW OUT ON STEAM🎮
Step into the haunting world of My Father Lied, a Mesopotamian mystery about memory, madness, and truth.
Check out the Launch Trailer👇
store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/...
#MyFatherLied #IndieGame #Steam #MysteryGame #IraqiGameDev
MY FATHER LIED IS NOW OUT ON STEAM🎮
Step into the haunting world of My Father Lied, a Mesopotamian mystery about memory, madness, and truth.
Check out the Launch Trailer👇
store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/...
#MyFatherLied #IndieGame #Steam #MysteryGame #IraqiGameDev
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 📢
MY FATHER LIED IS NOW OUT ON STEAM🎮
Step into the haunting world of My Father Lied, a Mesopotamian mystery about memory, madness, and truth.
Check out the Launch Trailer👇
store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/...
#MyFatherLied #IndieGame #Steam #MysteryGame #IraqiGameDev
MY FATHER LIED IS NOW OUT ON STEAM🎮
Step into the haunting world of My Father Lied, a Mesopotamian mystery about memory, madness, and truth.
Check out the Launch Trailer👇
store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/...
#MyFatherLied #IndieGame #Steam #MysteryGame #IraqiGameDev
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
UPDATE: Got many great pitches already, most from Latin America & Eastern Europe (which makes sense given my history & previous work lol)
I really want more stories from north of Africa, Middle-East & SEA. I'm reaching out to researchers & journos there, any suggestions & connections are welcome 🙏
I really want more stories from north of Africa, Middle-East & SEA. I'm reaching out to researchers & journos there, any suggestions & connections are welcome 🙏
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
UPDATE: Got many great pitches already, most from Latin America & Eastern Europe (which makes sense given my history & previous work lol)
I really want more stories from north of Africa, Middle-East & SEA. I'm reaching out to researchers & journos there, any suggestions & connections are welcome 🙏
I really want more stories from north of Africa, Middle-East & SEA. I'm reaching out to researchers & journos there, any suggestions & connections are welcome 🙏
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
Reposted by Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
